Portable mold



Sept. 8, 1953 Filed Aug. l5, 1951 l. STEES PORTABLE MOLD 2 Sheets-Sheet l f ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 8, 1953 l. sTEEs 2,651,096

PORTABLE MOLD Filed Aug. 15, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1F13. 6.r @a

INVENTOR l l l BY l l 1 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 8, 11.19523 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE MOLD IsaacStees, Harrisburg, Pa. Application August 15, 1951, Serial No. 241,907

Y Z Claims. l

This invention relates to a portable mould and more particularly to a mould of the type for producing slabs of plastic material such as concrete.

It frequently happens that a mason in constructing a building structure is confronted with the necessity of using a slab, as for instance in building a lintel over a window or doorway. Inasmuch as prefabricated slabs are not always available for the purpose, the workman is confronted with a possible layoff and loss of working time while awaiting the delivery of the required material.

The primary object of this invention is to facilitate the production of slabs conforming to the specifications under which the building is being constructed, so as to avoid unnecessary delay in the construction of the building and the possible layoff of the employees engaged in such construction.

Another object is to facilitate the transportation of the mouldin which the slabs are cast so that it may be easily transferred fromone construction job to another.

A still further object is to facilitate the moulding of slabs of different length so that when an opening of unusual length occurs in a building, a slab may be produced which will adequately supply the need.

The above and other objects may be attained by employing this invention which embodies among its features an elongated base frame having elongated side bars, spacers extending between the side bars adjacent opposite ends thereof, elongated longitudinally extending moulding strips removably disposed within the base frame adjacent the side bars, moulding panels disposed within the base frame adjacent the spacers and in abutting relation to the moulding strips, handles carried by the moulding panels and overlying the side bars and an elongated hopper mounted on the base frame in engagement with the moulding strips and said hopper having notches adjacent opposite ends thereof for accommodating the handles. Y Y

Other features include stops carried by the side bars adjacent opposite ends thereof and overlying the spacers, and the hopper having notches therein, the Walls of which engage the stops for locating the hopper in proper position on the base frame. Y

Still other features include means carried at opposite ends of the moulding strips for facilitating their extraction from the base frame, and

from around the sides of aslab which has-lalready been cast in the mould.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a top plan view of a mould and hopper embodying the features of this invention,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig; 3 is a transverse sectional View taken substantially along the line 3--3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a .view similar to Fig. 3 after the hopper has been removed,

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the manner in which a straight edge is used for smoothing the top surface of the cast product after the latter has partially set,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the mould after the hopper has been removed,

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing the manner in which a transversely extending straight edge is employed in connection with a partially set slab,

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the end panels,

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one of the moulding strips, illustrating a tool about to be applied thereto for extracting it from its position in the base frame,

Fig. 10 is a plan view ofthe mould illustrating a removable insert by which a slab of less length than the mould may be produced,

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view through the structure illustrated in Fig. 10, and

Fig. l2 is a perspective view of the insert.

Referring to the drawings in detail a base frame designated generally I0 comprises spaced parallel side bars I2 between which extend adjacent opposite ends spacers I4. The side bars I2 and spacers I4 are drilled to receive transversely extending tie bolts I6 having threaded thereon nuts I8 which when clamped in the position shown in Fig. l hold the side bars I2 and spacers I4 in relative positions to form the elongated rectangular frame I0. Obviously when the nuts I8 are removed from the bolts I6, the bolts may be extracted from their positions in the side bars I2 and spacers I4 to permit the frame I0 to be knocked down for transportation or storage. Carried by the side bars adjacent opposite ends thereof in overlapping relation with the spacers I4 are stops 20, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear.

With the frame I0 assembled as illustrated in the drawings, moulding strips 22 of slightly less length than the opening within the frame I0 defined by the side bars I2 and the spacers I4 are introduced into the base frame I0 to lie alongthe -inner sides of the side bars I2. `These moulding strips 22 are provided at opposite ends with inwardly extending recesses 24 which open through the ends of the bars for the reception of the hooked end 26 of a tool 28 which is employed for removing the moulding strips from the frame I after a slab has been cast therein. Elongated substantially rectangular end panels 30 are introduced into the space defined by the side bars I2 and spacers I4, adjacent the spacers and in abutting relation with opposite ends of the muoldingf strips," I 2.Y Each panel .30 L' isf'provided intermediate .its-'Vendsv :with an 'inwardly offset portion 32 having a moulding face 34 which is disposed to the inside of the space defined by the side bars I2 and spacers I4 for cooperation-,with the moulding strips 22 in confining the plastic material within the mould. Carried .by'oppesite ends of the moulding panels SlLareJOngitudinally extending handle members 36 Whichwhenthe panels 30 are in place within the frame :Illgoverlie the top surfaces of the side bars I2 adjacent the spacers I4 and the stops`20.

.In order to .direct .the.,material. into the mould, I provide. alhopper designated-.generally.;y 3-8 lWhich ycomprises `spaced fparailehside barsdl joined adjacent opposite Iends by .transversely ex- .tending ..cross.bars.,42. .'lhe..side bars 45,-when the vhopper` is in .place `on, the.mould,.liefon vthe upper edgesfofthemoulding strips 212 as -Will bev readily understood upon .reference to .Eig.\3.

,flheuendabars I2-of `thedcoppert are. in the .preferred .form of the invention, vdisposed-beyond the ends of ftheIrame .It yto Iprovide hand holds'by which the hoppermay Vbe lifted Ifrom .theirame `Forme'din. the .bottom edges ofvthe side bars 4d of thehopper.adjacentiopposite' ends thereof `are .relatively deep .notches 441Ffor :ac-

commodating the .handles 3,6, l and .formed ,Y adjacent the-.notches 44 .are `relatively shallow notches 4B, the'w'alls of .Which-engage, the stops :20 .in Y order to properly -locate -thef hopper 381-011 the base frame I0.

The devicethus .far described is admirably suited for ,producing .slabs of. .a :length equal. :to .the space: defined lbetvveen .the moulding panels Si] when they are1 in abutting relation tothe. .spacers .|4- and in ordertto produce slabsof lesser length, I ,introduceI between one,` of -the' moulding panels 30 and the `opposite.moulding panel. an insert .designated.genera1ly-48. This insert-.comprises arpair .Ofspaced .end `members fn-ofa width substantially .equal `to thepwidth of the .moulding strips 22,5and -joining thefmembers .50.is abridge piece'SZ-having 1notches 54 entering opposite sides thereof intermediate itsrends .to .provide vhand holds or finger accommodating .recesses so that-.the device .Amay -.be easily placed in .position in or extracted from the 1mould.

In use the base framed() is -assembled as shown and placed on -a sheet of paper TP' or like iiexible .material Whichfis supported on a flat horizontally extending surface. fThe m'ouldingstrips -22are then placed .-in position 'Within the base :frame I in `abutting relation with the 'sidebars .I:2 with their ends spaced-from the spacers-I4. The

.end panels 3D fareithenv-placed in position-againstthe spacers I4 A.andinabutting.relation with the endsof .the moulding .strips v22 .so `that thez'mould- ,ing faces, 34joppose -one another. y-With: the

moulding strips 22 andthe mouldingipanels- :thus-'disposed Withinzthe baseframe :.ID, the ihopper l38- is placed-fini-position:so that its side. mem- Vbers 40 lie on-the topedges ofthe-mouldingstrips 22 and the icross; members 42 extending 'beyond ...the ends .of 'the ybasefframe 210. ',Thegstops .20

cooperating with` Vvthe Walls/of 'the vnotchesit the plastic material is smoothed by moving a .straight edge B therealong. After the plastic `mate`rial has been set within the mould, the v.mouldingepanels 30 are lifted upwardly by grasp- .ing the handles 36 so as to leave the ends of thenrouldingstrip's*exposed so that a tool 2B may be=introduced into the spaces between the ends of the moulding stripsrand the spacers I4 with rits.. hook -26 f entering,.,the recess 24 to thereby enablezthestrip 2`2 ftolbe` extracted Afrom its,.po sitionfbetween .themoulded Y.product andthe adjacent side'barl2 of'thebase frame I3. After extraction of both -moulding panels 30 and .moulding .strips22, .lthe .entire yframe rmay be .liftedfawaysfrorn' the .moulded slab vand. transferred'fto anothenpos'ition'lfor a repeat operation Whi1eLthe.-moulded .slab is curing. In A.instances VWherea.slabfofllesslength .than the total length of .-thenmold'.may.be.,required, an insert conforming-:t0 the :insert5`48 may' be introduced into the mould with one end restingagainsty one of the. mouldinapanels and the other end forming r.a dam A.Lvvhicrsh' ywill lpreyent the "material being ,moulded from. passing beyon'd aepredetermined .point .While in;..the :foregoing l.there has been shown land described'lthepreferred .embodimentof this 4invention 'it is to be understood ,.that minor changes .in the detailsof construction, combina- .tion rand. arrangement, ofA .parts fmay be` resorted to .Without .departing'ffrom '.thespirit and scope of theV invention as claimed.

What is `.claimed is:

Lflna tportablamould `formouldingslabs such as -.lint`els`,. an elongated base .-frame having elon- Ygated,side barfs, yspacers .extending 'between the side'bars adjacent opposite ends thereof,-elon gated ,longitudinally extending ,moulding strips removably ,disposed .-.vvithin the-fbase frame ad- `jacent the side bars, elongated .moulding ,panels disposed ...Within Athe [base frame adjacent the lspacerseandj in. abutting. relation ,to fthe moulding .stripsjhandles carriedf'by ,the moulding. ,panels .and extending outwardly. therefrom .in overlying 4.relation .tor-theside V.batsman .elongated hopper mounted 4on fthe-base iframe irrengagement With the@ moulding; :strips ...and said hopper having .notches therein. adjacent .opposite` ends for ac- -commodating.the ihandles, and .the moulding ,stripsehayingQ,recessesf-extending thereinto yand ppening 7through-omgosite endsthereof. for-.receivfing -a :tool-b-y :which the `r-noulLl-ing strips may be lifted out of the base .frame v2.f ,In amor-table mou-ldfor. moulding slabsl such vas.lintels,.an-elongatedsbasefframe having elongatedgV sidegbars, Aspacers extending between the side `bars adjacent opposite ends thereof, felon- `gatedV longitudinally extending moulding .strips removably Vdisposed Within thebase yframe ad- ;jacent :the :sideybarsfelongatedmoulding; panels disposed; within sthewbase frame vradjacent the spacersfand fin-rabutting relation to the moulding strips; handlesfcarried;by.thenmoulding-v panels and extending outwardly therefrom in overlying relation to the side bars, an elongated hopper mounted on the base frame in engagement with the moulding strips and said hopper having notches therein adjacent opposite ends for accommodating the handles, stops carried by the side bars and projecting upwardly therefrom adjacent opposite ends thereof the hopper having notches therein for receiving the stops and holding the hopper in proper position on the base frame, the moulding panels having extensions thereon which lie between the moulding strips adjacent opposite ends thereof, and the moulding strips having recesses extending thereinto and opening through opposite ends thereof for receiving a tool by which the moulding strips may be lifted out of the base frame.

ISAAC STEES.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 737,032 Sicklesteel et al. Aug. 25, 1903 747,496 Spears Dec. 22, 1903 '790,480 Crouch May 23, 1905 810,343 Pettyjohn Jan. 16, 1906 1,533,830 Cochran Apr. 14, 1925 

